1. Trust v
Mistrust
Oral
infant /
mother
/
feeding and being
comforted, teething, sleeping
Hope and Drive
Sensory Distortion
/
Withdrawal
2. Autonomy
v Shame &
Doubt
Anal
toddler /
parents
/
bodily functions,
toilet training, muscular control,
walking
Willpower and
Self-Control
Impulsivity /
Compulsion
3. Initiative v
Guilt
Phallic
preschool /
family
/
exploration
and discovery, adventure and play
Purpose and
Direction
Ruthlessness /
Inhibition
4. Industry v
Inferiority
Latency
schoolchild /
school, teachers,
friends,
neighbourhood
/
achievement and
accomplishment
Competence and
Method
Narrow Virtuosity
/
Inertia
5. Identity v
Role
Confusion
Puberty
and
Genitality
adolescent /
peers, groups,
influences
/
resolving identity and
direction, becoming a grown-up
Fidelity and
Devotion
Fanaticism /
Repudiation
6. Intimacy v
Isolation
(Genitality)
young adult /
lovers, friends, work
connections
/
intimate
relationships, work and social life
Love and
Affiliation
Promiscuity /
Exclusivity
7.
Generativity
v Stagnation
n/a
mid-adult /
children,
community
/
'giving back', helping,
contributing
Care and
Production
Overextension
/
Rejectivity
8. Integrity v
Despair
n/a
late adult /
society, the world,
life
/
meaning and purpose, life
achievements
Wisdom and
Renunciation
Presumption /
Disdain
The colours are merely to help presentation and do not signify any
relationships between factors. This chart attempts to capture and present
concisely the major elements of Erikson's theory, drawn from various Erikson
books, diagrams and other references, including Childhood and Society
(1950); Identity and the Life Cycle (1959); The Life Cycle Completed: A
Review (1982, revised 1996 by Joan Erikson); and Vital Involvement in Old
Age (1989). Erikson later suggested psychosexual stages 7 and 8, but they
are not typically part of Freud's scheme which extended only to
Puberty/Genitality. See
Freud's psychosexual stages
below.
erik erikson's psychosocial theory overview
Erikson's psychosocial theory is widely and highly regarded. As with any
concept there are critics, but generally Erikson's theory is considered
fundamentally significant. Erikson was a psychoanalyst and also a
humanitarian. So his theory is useful far beyond psychoanalysis - it's useful
for any application involving personal awareness and development - of
oneself
or others.
There is a strong, but not essential, Freudian element in Erikson's work and
model. Fans of Freud will find the influence useful. People who disagree with
Freud, and especially his psychosexual theory, can ignore the Freudian aspect
and still find Erikson's ideas useful. Erikson's theory stands alone and does not
depend on Freud for its robustness and relevance.
Aside from Freudian psychoanalysis, Erikson developed his theory mainly from
his extensive practical field research, initially with Native American
communities, and then also from his clinical therapy work attached to leading
mental health centres and universities. He actively pioneered psychoanalytical
development from the late 1940's until the 1990's.
Erikson's concept crucially incorporated cultural and social
aspects into
Freud's biological and sexually oriented theory
.
Erikson was able to do this because of his strong interest and compassion for
people, especially young people, and also because his research was carried
out among human societies far removed from the more inward-looking world
of the psychoanalyst's couch, which was essentially Freud's approach.
This helps Erikson's eight stages theory to be a tremendously powerful model:
it is very accessible and obviously relevant to modern life, from several
different perspectives, for understanding and explaining how personality and
behaviour develops in people. As such Erikson's theory is useful for teaching,
parenting, self-awareness, managing and coaching, dealing with conflict, and
generally for understanding self and others.
Both Erikson and his wife Joan, who collaborated as psychoanalysts and
writers, were passionately interested in childhood development, and its effects
on adult society. Eriksons' work is as relevant today as when he first outlined
his original theory, in fact given the modern pressures on society, family and
relationships - and the quest for personal development and fulfilment - his
ideas are probably more relevant now than ever.
Erikson's psychosocial theory basically asserts that people experience eight
'psychosocial crisis stages' which significantly affect each person's
development and personality. Joan Erikson described a 'ninth' stage after
Erik's death, but the eight stage model is most commonly referenced and is
regarded as the standard. (Joan Erikson's work on the 'ninth stage' appears in
her 1996 revisions to The Life Cycle Completed: A Review, and will in the
future be summarised on this page.)